Hi Patrick,
Most greenland paddlers don't use drip rings. In the past on my paddles I tied a turks head knot which works fine but is not authentic. I have seen in some historical info the use of a small line or seal skin tied around the blade. I used a piece of raw hide shoe lace on my last paddle with the knot tied at the lower blade edge. I find this worked even better than the turks head. In the summer months I take the raw hide off and don't use anything.